QP14 Repository Ownership (CODEOWNERS)
What this means
SiteShadow flagged that repository ownership rules (like CODEOWNERS) may be missing. Ownership helps ensure the right people review sensitive areas (auth, billing, infra, secrets).
Why it matters
Ownership policies help enforce review and accountability.
- Risky changes slip through when nobody is clearly responsible for a subsystem.
- Security config drift when infra and policy files change without the right reviewers.
- Slower incident response because it's unclear who owns the affected area.
Safer examples
1) Add CODEOWNERS for high-risk areas
Auth/session code, secrets handling, CI/CD, infra manifests, and billing.
2) Require reviews from owners
Configure branch protection to require owner approval for matching paths.
3) Keep ownership current
Update owners as teams change so the file stays meaningful.
How SiteShadow detects it (high level)
- Detects missing ownership configuration and highlights repos where sensitive paths lack clear ownership signals.
- Correlates missing ownership with reduced review "guardrails".
References
- OWASP Top 10: https://owasp.org/Top10/
---